by Kate Barton, LAc.

For the first time in my life, it feels like I am not ready for the arrival of Fall in Maine. Don’t get me wrong, fall in Maine is incredible with the kaleidoscope of colors, ideal temperatures, and lack of insects to ruin the party, but this year I just don’t feel ready. My belief is that due to the lack of “normal summer” we have had in 2023, my body just does not want to give up longer days and hotter temperatures, especially with the knowledge that winter is coming. Nevertheless, Fall has arrived in Maine.

I also always find fall to be an intense time of immense transition – the contrast between an easy summer and chaotic holiday season catches me off guard despite knowing it will happen every year. Despite this, October is still one of my favorite months of the year. I believe this quote by Bonaro W. Overstreet says it best that, “October is a symphony of permanence and change.” Fall is a time to breathe in and reflect on all of the abundance nature has given us up until this point in the year.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fall is ruled by the Metal element with the primary emotion of Metal being Grief. When I first learned about this connection, it just felt so correct and so in line with my own experiences of life in Autumn. When the trees shed their leaves and cooler temperatures arrive once more, there is just an inherent and collective feeling of Grief in the atmosphere.

Metal element is also associated with the lungs in Chinese Medicine. As one of the most delicate organs in the body, it has also always felt correct to me that the lungs would be associated with grief. It feels like every time someone is overcome with grief, they will experience a cold, or bronchitis, or pneumonia shortly following the episode.

With Grief and Autumn so implicitly linked together, it is completely normal to feel like the transition into fall is not easy. With back to school and looming holiday stress sandwiched on either side of many people’s favorite season, a little grief this time of year is expected. So this fall, give yourself permission to sit with that grief and allow it to move through you at its own pace. While fall can be beautiful, there is also the implicit grief of fall that is ok not to ignore.